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The Nintendo 64 debuts in Japan and the United States.
1996 is one of the most notable years in both Nintendo history, and video game history. First off, it was the year when the Nintendo 64 was released, along with launch games Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64. It also was the year when many other notable games came out such as Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. 1996 also marked the debut of the Pokémon franchise with its first two games released in Japan (over two years before they would be released in North America).
Timeline[]
- February 27: Pokémon Red and Green were released for the Game Boy in Japan.
- March: In Sweden, video game magazine Super Power changes name to Super Play.
- March 9: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was released for the Super Famicom in Japan.
- March 21: Kirby of the Stars Super Deluxe (Kirby Super Star) was released for the Super Famicom in Japan.
- May 4: Kirby's Block Ball was released in North America for the Game Boy.
- May 13: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was released for the SNES in North America.
- June: Marigul Management is formed.
- June 23: The Nintendo 64 is released alongside Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 in Japan.
- July 27: Donkey Kong Land was released in Japan for the Game Boy.
- August: Tetris Attack was released in North America for both the SNES and Game Boy.
- September 4: The Donkey Kong Country animated series premieres in France on the France 2 TV channel.
- September 20: Kirby Super Star was released for the SNES in North America.
- September 23: Donkey Kong Land 2 was released for the Game Boy in North America.
- September 29: The Nintendo 64 is released alongside Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 in North America.
- October 19: Picross 2 was released in Japan for the Game Boy.
- October 26: Tetris Attack was released in Japan for the Game Boy.
- November 3: Tetris Attack was released in Japan for the SNES.
- November 18: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! was released for the SNES in North America.
- November 23: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and Donkey Kong Land 2 released in Japan for the SNES and Game Boy.
- November 28: Donkey Kong Land 2 is released in Europe for the Game Boy and Tetris Attack was released in Europe for both the SNES and Game Boy.
- December 3: Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire was released for the Nintendo 64.
- December 13: Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! was released in Europe for the SNES.
- December 14: Mario Kart 64 was released for the Nintendo 64 in Japan.
Births[]
- April 10: Tomoyo Kurosawa - Voice actress for Sothis in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- April 16: Anya Taylor-Joy - Voice actress of Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
- November 9: Kevin Afghani - Current voice actor of Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi in the Mario series since Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the first two, WarioWare: Move It! for the third, and Super Mario Party Jamboree for the last respectively
Character debuts[]
- Pokémon Red and Green: Red, Professor Oak, Blue Oak, Daisy Oak, Brock, Misty, Lt. Surge, Erika, Sabrina, Koga, Blaine, Giovanni, Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, Lance, the Generation 1 Pokémon
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars: Mallow, Geno, Frogfucious, Toadofsky, Booster, Mack, Bowyer, Yaridovich, the Axem Rangers, Exor, Smithy
- Kirby Super Star: Chef Kawasaki, Dyna Blade, Fatty Whale, Wham Bam Rock, Marx, Galactic Nova
- Donkey Kong Country (TV series): Bluster Kong, Kaptain Skurvy, Polly Roger, Eddie the Mean Old Yeti, Inka Dinka Doo
- Super Mario 64: King Bob-omb, Koopa the Quick, Whomp King, MIPS
- Pilotwings 64: Lark, Kiwi, Goose, Ibis, Hawk, Robin
- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!: Ellie the Elephant, Parry the Parallel Bird, Belcha, Arich, KAOS
Games released in 1996[]
Game Boy[]
Please select a region.
39 games were released in Japan.
| Title | Publisher | Release Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Monsters Aka Version | Nintendo | February 27, 1996 |  [1]
|
| Pocket Monsters Midori Version | Nintendo | February 27, 1996 | [2]
|
| Kuma no Pooh Tarou: Takara Sagashi da Ooiri Game Battle! | Takara | February 29, 1996 | [3]
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| Batoru Arīna Tōshinden | Takara | March 22, 1996 | [4]
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| Nettou The King of Fighters '95 | Takara | April 26, 1996 | [5]
|
| Renju Club: Gomoku Narabe | Hect | May 17, 1996 | [6]
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| Bass Fishing Tatsujin Techou | Starfish SD | June 21, 1996 | [7]
|
| Bomberman Collection | Hudson Soft | July 21, 1996 | [8]
|
| Mole Mania | Nintendo | July 21, 1996 | [9]
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| Namco Gallery Vol. 1 | Namco | July 21, 1996 | [10]
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| Momotarou Collection | Hudson Soft | August 9, 1996 | [11]
|
| Nettou Samurai Spirits Zankurō Musōken | Takara | August 23, 1996 | [12]
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| Super Chinese Land 1-2-3 Dash | Culture Brain | September 13, 1996 | [13]
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| SD Hiryū no Ken Gaiden 2 | Culture Brain | September 27, 1996 | [14]
|
| Sports Collection | Tonkin House | September 27, 1996 | [15]
|
| Street Racer | Ubisoft | September 27, 1996 | [16]
|
| Pocket Monsters Ao Version | Nintendo | October 15, 1996 | [17]
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| Picross 2 | Nintendo | October 19, 1996 | [18]
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| Yoshi no Panepon | Nintendo | October 26, 1996 | [19]
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| Puzzle Nintama Rantarō GB | Culture Brain | November 1, 1996 | [20]
|
| Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren GB: 〜Tsukikage-mura no Kaibutsu〜 | Chunsoft | November 22, 1996 | [21]
|
| Genjin Collection | Hudson Soft | November 22, 1996 | [22]
|
| Donkey Kong Land | Nintendo | November 23, 1996 | [23]
|
| Namco Gallery Vol. 2 | Namco | November 29, 1996 | [24]
|
| Pachiokun Game Gallery | Coconuts Japan | November 29, 1996 | [25]
|
| Momotarou Collection 2 | Hudson Soft | December 6, 1996 | [26]
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| Eitango Target 1900 | Imagineer | December 13, 1996 | [27]
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| Gegege no Kitarou: Youkai Souzoushu Arawaru! | Bandai | December 13, 1996 | [28]
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| Nihonshi Target 201 | Imagineer | December 13, 1996 | [29]
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| Puyo Puyo Tsū | Compile | December 13, 1996 | [30]
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| Bomberman GB 3 | Hudson Soft | December 20, 1996 | [31]
|
| Crayon Shin-chan: Ora no Gokigen Collection | Bandai | December 20, 1996 | [32]
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| Midori no Makibao | Tomy Corporation | December 21, 1996 | [33]
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| Snoopy no Hajimete no Otsukai | Kemco | December 21, 1996 | [34]
|
| Meitantei Conan: Chika Yuuenchi Satsujin Jiken | Bandai | December 27, 1996 | [35]
|
| Mini-4 Boy | J-Wing | December 27, 1996 | [36]
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| Tetris Plus | Jaleco | December 27, 1996 | [37]
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| Super Black Bass Pocket | Starfish SD | December 28, 1996 | [38]
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| Super Chinese Fighter GB | Culture Brain | December 28, 1996 | [39]
|
28 games were released in North America.
19 games were released in Europe.
| Title | Publisher | Release Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA Live 96 | THQ | January 1996 | [67]
|
| Tetris Blast | THQ | June 1996 | [68]
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| DragonHeart | Acclaim | October 1996 | [69]
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| Donkey Kong Land 2 | Nintendo | November 1996 | [70]
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| FIFA Soccer 96 | Black Pearl Software | December 1996 | [71]
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| Arcade Classics: Super Breakout / Battlezone | Black Pearl | 1996 | [72]
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| Battle Arena Toshinden | Takara | 1996 | [73]
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| Casper | Natsume | 1996 | [74]
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| Cutthroat Island | Acclaim | 1996 | [75]
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| Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball | Acclaim | 1996 | [76]
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| Iron Man and X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal | Acclaim | 1996 | [77]
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| Lucky Luke | Infogrames | 1996 | [78]
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| NHL 96 | Black Pearl Software | 1996 | [79]
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| Olympic Summer Games: Atlanta 1996 | Black Pearl Software | 1996 | [80]
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| Pinocchio | Disney Interactive | 1996 | [81]
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| Pocahontas | THQ | 1996 | [82]
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| Prehistorik Man | Titus Software | 1996 | [83]
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| Road Rash | Ocean Software | 1996 | [84]
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| Spirou | Infogrames | 1996 | [85]
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| Street Racer | Ubisoft | 1996 | [86]
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| Tetris Attack | Nintendo | 1996 | [87]
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| Tetris Plus | Nintendo | 1996 | [88]
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| Toy Story | Black Pearl | 1996 | [89]
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| Urban Strike | Black Pearl | 1996 | [90]
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Super Nintendo Entertainment System[]
Please select a region.
171 games were released in Japan.
46 games were released in North America.
42 games were released in Europe.
Satellaview[]
Please select a region.
23 games were released in Japan.
| Title | Publisher | Release Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS Special Tee Shot | HAL Laboratory | January 12, 1996 | [340]
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| DynamiTracer | Square | January 27, 1996 | [341]
|
| Koi wa Balance: Tatoeba K-kun no Tabou na Ichinichi-hen | Square | January 27, 1996 | [342]
|
| Radical Dreamers | Square | February 3, 1996 | [343]
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| BS Dragon Quest | Enix | February 1996 | [344]
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| Treasure Conflix | Square | February 1996 | [345]
|
| Yoshi No Panepon | Nintendo | March 11, 1996 | [346]
|
| BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Dai-1-kai | Nintendo | March 31, 1996 | [347]
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| BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Dai-2-kai | Nintendo | April 7, 1996 | [348]
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| BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Dai-3-kai | Nintendo | April 14, 1996 | [349]
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| BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Dai-4-kai | Nintendo | April 21, 1996 | [350]
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| BS Spriggan Powered BS Ver. Prelude | Naxat Soft | May 26, 1996 | [351]
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| BS Spriggan Powered 1 | Naxat Soft | June 30, 1996 | [352]
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| BS Spriggan Powered 2 | Naxat Soft | July 7, 1996 | [353]
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| BS Spriggan Powered 3 | Naxat Soft | July 14, 1996 | [354]
|
| BS Spriggan Powered 4 | Naxat Soft | July 21, 1996 | [355]
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| BS SimCity Machizukuri Taikai | Nintendo | August 1996 | [356]
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| BS Kirby no Omotya Bako Baseball | Nintendo | 1996 | [357]
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| BS Kirby no Omocha Bako Hoshi Kuzushi | Nintendo | 1996 | [358]
|
| BS Kirby no Omocha Bako Pachinko | Nintendo | 1996 | [359]
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| BS Let's Pachinko Nante Gindama 1 | Daiichi | 1996 | [360]
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| BS Let's Pachinko Nante Gindama 2 | Daiichi | 1996 | [361]
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| BS Let's Pachinko Nante Gindama 3 | Daiichi | 1996 | [362]
|
| BS Let's Pachinko Nante Gindama 4 | Daiichi | 1996 | [363]
|
| BS Nichibutsu Mahjong | Nichibutsu | 1996 | [364]
|
| Dezaemon BSX Version - BS-X Shooting | Taito | 1996 | [365]
|
Virtual Boy[]
Please select a region.
Nintendo 64[]
Please select a region.
10 games were released in Japan.
| Title | Publisher | Release Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilotwings 64 | Nintendo | June 23, 1996 | [368]
|
| Saikyō Habu Shōgi | SETA | June 23, 1996 | [369]
|
| Super Mario 64 | Nintendo | June 23, 1996 | [370]
|
| Wave Race 64 | Nintendo | September 27, 1996 | [371]
|
| Wonder Project J2: Koruro no Mori no Josette | Enix | November 22, 1996 | [372]
|
| Eikō no Saint Andrews | SETA | November 29, 1996 | [373]
|
| Mario Kart 64 | Nintendo | December 14, 1996 | [374]
|
| Chōkūkan Night: Pro Yakyū King | Imagineer | December 20, 1996 | [375]
|
| Jikkyō J.League: Perfect Striker | Konami | December 20, 1996 | [376]
|
| Mahjong Master | Konami | December 20, 1996 | [377]
|
8 games were released in North America.
| Title | Publisher | Release Date | ESRB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 | Nintendo | September 26, 1996 | Kids to Adults
|
[378]
|
| Pilotwings 64 | Nintendo | September 29, 1996 | Kids to Adults
|
[379]
|
| Mortal Kombat Trilogy | Midway | October 31, 1996 | Mature
|
[380]
|
| Wave Race 64 | Nintendo | November 1, 1996 | Kids to Adults
|
[381]
|
| Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey | Midway | November 11, 1996 | Kids to Adults
|
[382]
|
| Killer Instinct Gold | Nintendo | November 25, 1996 | Teen
|
[383]
|
| Cruis'n USA | Nintendo | December 3, 1996 | Kids to Adults
|
[384]
|
| Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire | LucasArts | December 3, 1996 | Teen
|
[385]
|
Gallery of notable releases[]
.png "Super Mario 64 (NA).png (1.85 MB)")
.jpg "Pokemon Red (JP).jpg (51 KB)")
Pocket Monsters Red (Japan only, one of the first entries in the Pokémon franchise).
.jpg "Pokemon Green (JP).jpg (24 KB)")
Pocket Monsters Green (Japan only, one of the first entries in the Pokémon franchise).
.jpg "Super Mario RPG (NA).jpg (60 KB)")
.jpg "Kirby Super Star (NA).jpg (59 KB)")
_(NA).png "Donkey Kong Country 3 - Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (Player's Choice) (NA).png (1.62 MB)")
.jpg "Mario Kart 64 (JP).jpg (83 KB)")
Mario Kart 64 (Japan only)
.png "Donkey Kong Land 2 (NA).png (1.94 MB)")
The Donkey Kong Country cartoon premieres in France.
References[]
| Nintendo Throughout the Years | |
|---|---|
| Before 1970 | Before 1960 • 1960s |
| 1970s | 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 |
| 1980s | 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 |
| 1990s | 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 |
| 2000s | 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 |
| 2010s | 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 |
| 2020s | 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 • 2025 |